I can’t lie to you, dear readers. I really didn’t have a ton of knowledge about His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu before reading this book. And to be even more transparent, my understanding of these men is still limited even after reading the book. I’ve realized since reading the book that all you really need to understand is a general sense of the struggles and adversities that they’ve individually faced. That shaped them into who they’ve become and what they represent. But this book isn’t about them. This book is about joy.
Going into this book was overwhelming because I couldn’t really define what joy is. Not only that, but how will I know when I have it? The idea of being joyful is complicated. Do we all want to be joyful? Yes, probably. But that seems easier said than done in a world seemingly always on the brink of chaos and tragedy. There were a few key things I hoped to find answers to by reading this book: 1) What is joy? 2) What can I do to find joy in my everyday life? 3) How can I bring joy to others without involving material things (i.e., gifts)? And to be clear, I went into this looking for concrete answers to these questions. I didn’t want anything too abstract or philosophical. Make this real for me, guys!
I don’t want to give too much away if you decide to read it, but yes, the book answered my three questions. It was refreshing to see an entire section dedicated to “Joy Practices.” This section was seemingly written with my second and third critical needs in mind. It was refreshing to see actual activities that I could do to bring joy into my life rather than just an abstract discussion of the idea of joy. The activities are given context by explaining how it relates directly to the principles of joy discussed by His Holiness and the Archbishop.
I want to leave you with a few quotes from the book that I found moving, and I hope these words inspire you to take the time to read this book. Reading the comments of these two leaders was an act of joy for me, and I hope you find some peace and comfort from their thoughts on joy.
- Page 3: “Joy is much bigger than happiness. While happiness is often seen as being dependent on external circumstances, joy is not.”
- Page 212: “So many people,” the Dalai Lama said, “seem to struggle with being kind to themselves. This is really sad. You see, if you don’t have genuine love and kindness toward yourself, how can you extend these to others? We must remind people, as the Archbishop has said, that basic human nature is good, is positive, so this can give us some courage and self-confidence. As we said, too much focus on yourself leads to fear, insecurity, and anxiety. Remember, you are not alone. You are part of a whole generation that is the future of humanity. Then you will get a sense of courage and purpose in life.”
AND THERE IS A MOVIE!
Mission: Joy is the documentary inspired by The Book of Joy which showcases the exchange between these two Nobel Peace Prize winners that led to that book. SJR State students, faculty, and staff can watch this inspiring film via our Alexander Street database.
The Book of Joy by
Call Number: Palatka Circulation BL65.H36 B78 2016
ISBN: 9780399185045
Publication Date: 2016-09-20
An instant New York Times bestseller Two spiritual giants. Five days. One timeless question. Nobel Peace Prize Laureates His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu have survived more than fifty years of exile and the soul-crushing violence of oppression. Despite their hardships--or, as they would say, because of them--they are two of the most joyful people on the planet. In April 2015, Archbishop Tutu traveled to the Dalai Lama's home in Dharamsala, India, to celebrate His Holiness's eightieth birthday and to create what they hoped would be a gift for others. They looked back on their long lives to answer a single burning question: How do we find joy in the face of life's inevitable suffering? They traded intimate stories, teased each other continually, and shared their spiritual practices. By the end of a week filled with laughter and punctuated with tears, these two global heroes had stared into the abyss and despair of our time and revealed how to live a life brimming with joy. This book offers us a rare opportunity to experience their astonishing and unprecendented week together, from the first embrace to the final good-bye. We get to listen as they explore the Nature of True Joy and confront each of the Obstacles of Joy--from fear, stress, and anger to grief, illness, and death. They then offer us the Eight Pillars of Joy, which provide the foundation for lasting happiness. Throughout, they include stories, wisdom, and science. Finally, they share their daily Joy Practices that anchor their own emotional and spiritual lives. The Archbishop has never claimed sainthood, and the Dalai Lama considers himself a simple monk. In this unique collaboration, they offer us the reflection of real lives filled with pain and turmoil in the midst of which they have been able to discover a level of peace, of courage, and of joy to which we can all aspire in our own lives.
The Dalai Lama by
Call Number: Palatka Circulation BQ7935.B777 N67 2020
ISBN: 9780544416581
Publication Date: 2020-02-25
The first authoritative biography of the Dalai Lama--a story by turns inspiring and shocking--from an acclaimed Tibetan scholar with exceptional access to his subject. The Dalai Lama's message of peace and compassion resonates with people of all faiths and none. Yet, for all his worldwide fame, he remains personally elusive. At last Alexander Norman--acclaimed Oxford-trained scholar of the history of Tibet--delivers the definitive, unique, unforgettable biography. The Dalai Lama recounts an astonishing odyssey from isolated Tibetan village to worldwide standing as spiritual and political leader of one of the world's most profound and complex cultural traditions. Norman reveals that, while the Dalai Lama has never been comfortable with his political position, he has been a canny player--at one time CIA-backed--who has maneuvered amidst pervasive violence, including placing himself at the center of a dangerous Buddhist schism. Yet even more surprising than the political, Norman convinces, is the Dalai Lama's astonishing spiritual practice, rooted in magic, vision, and prophecy--details of which are illuminated in this book for the first time. A revelatory life story of one of today's most radical, charismatic, and beloved world leaders.
Emotional Awareness by
Call Number: Palatka Circulation BF531 .E498 2008
ISBN: 9780805087123
Publication Date: 2008-09-16
Two leading thinkers engage in a landmark conversation about human emotions and the pursuit of psychological fulfillment At their first meeting, a remarkable bond was sparked between His Holiness the Dalai Lama, one of the world's most revered spiritual leaders, and the psychologist Paul Ekman, whose groundbreaking work helped to define the science of emotions. Now these two luminaries share their thinking about science and spirituality, the bonds between East and West, and the nature and quality of our emotional lives. In this unparalleled series of conversations, the Dalai Lama and Ekman prod and push toward answers to the central questions of emotional experience. What are the sources of hate and compassion? Should a person extend her compassion to a torturer--and would that even be biologically possible? What does science reveal about the benefits of Buddhist meditation, and can Buddhism improve through engagement with the scientific method? As they come to grips with these issues, they invite us to join them in an unfiltered view of two great traditions and two great minds. Accompanied by commentaries on the findings of emotion research and the teachings of Buddhism, their interplay--amusing, challenging, eye-opening, and moving--guides us on a transformative journey in the understanding of emotions.
Path of Wisdom, Path of Peace by
Call Number: Palatka Circulation BQ7935.B777 A5 2005
ISBN: 0824523113
Publication Date: 2005-07-01
This is a unique book of the Dalai Lama's thought on how he sees himself, Buddhism, the world at war, the meaning of freedom, busy modern life, its challenges and how to master them. In his inimitable style of humorous simplicity His Holiness looks at everyday problems and puts them in a wider context, making clear their global significance. The book provides an excellent and wide-ranging introduction and overview to the Dalai Lama's philosophy of life, his thoughts and beliefs, and also gives food for thought on how all of us can live lives of greater wisdom and peace.
Toward a True Kinship of Faiths by
Call Number: St. Augustine Circulation BL85 .B85 2010
ISBN: 9780385525053
Publication Date: 2010-05-11
No country, no culture, no person today is untouched by what happens in the rest of the world. Technological innovation, environmental degradation, economic gain & loss, nuclear weapons, instant communication have all created unprecedented familiarity among the world's many cultures. With this historic development, the Dalai Lama understands that the essential task of humanity in the 21st Century is to cultivate peaceful coexistence. Many believe in the inevitability of an escalating "clash of civilizations". Peaceful coexistence has long been problematic with religion, and while previous conflicts over religious differences may have been significant and regrettable, they did not threaten the very survival of humanity. Now, when extremists can persuade followers with the immense emotional power of faith and have access to powerful technological resources, a single spark could ignite a powder keg of frightening proportions. Yet the Dalai Lama shows how the challenges of globalization can also move us in another direction, to a deeper plane where nations, cultures, and individuals connect through their shared human nature. All major religions confront the same perennial questions; each have distinct forms of expression. But this marvelous diversity of insight has the potential for inspiring dialogue which can enrich everyone's pursuit of wisdom. All faith traditions turn to compassion as a guiding principle for living a good life. It is the task of all people with an aspiration to spiritual perfection to affirm the fundamental value of the compassion. In this way we can truly develop a deep recognition of the value of other faiths, and on that basis, we can cultivate genuine respect. In Toward a True Kinship of Faiths, the Dalai Lama also explores where differences between religions can be genuinely appreciated without serving as a source of conflict. The establishment of genuine harmony is not dependent upon accepting that all religions are fundamentally the same or that they lead to the same place. Many fear that recognizing the value of another faith is incompatible with having devotion to the truth of one's own. Nevertheless, the Dalai Lama profoundly shows how a sincere believer can, with integrity, be a pluralist in relation to other religions without compromising commitment to the essence of the doctrinal teachings of their own faith. An issue of central importance for the Dalai Lama personally and for the entire world in general, Toward a True Kinship of Faiths offers a hopeful yet realistic look at how humanity must step into the future.
Desmond Tutu by
Call Number: Palatka Circulation BX5700.6.Z8 T8737 2004
ISBN: 0313328609
Publication Date: 2004-10-30
History will remember Desmond Tutu, who has been called South Africa's Martin Luther King, Jr., as a great leader in the struggle against apartheid. In this new biography, which includes original quotations from the author's interviews with Tutu, readers will follow the steady progress of a boy and man who has held an irrepressible faith in humankind and his God. They will learn about his family, schooling, important mentors, and extraordinary career trajectory in South Africa and abroad. Now retired, Tutu's accomplishments and contributions to the world can be fully appreciated. The clear explanation of the policy of apartheid, how it affected Tutu and his family, and how he helped to bring it crashing down will affect and inform students as no history alone can. They will marvel over his sparkling wit and effervescent personality, his nonviolent stance in the face of intense racial hatred and harassment, and his persistence against enormous odds. This will be an effortless, enjoyable, enlightening and inspiring read.